Today we will discuss Hatha Yoga. What is Hatha Yoga?

It is the most popular form of yoga in the west. Its name derives from two Sanskrit terms “ha” meaning sun (masculine) and “tha” meaning moon (feminine). The two terms placed together means “forceful” which is taken to signify the power generated in a union of opposites. Yoga literally means to yoke these opposites together and thereby produce balance and a greater union.

Hatha represents opposing energies: hot and cold (fire and water, following similar concept as yin-yang), male and female, positive and negative. Hatha yoga attempts to balance mind and body using physical postures or “asanas”, controlled or “pranic” breathing, and the calming of the mind through meditation and relaxation.

Traditional Hatha Yoga is a holistic yogic path, including many disciplines – asanas, purification procedures, poses, yogic breathing (pranayama), and meditation. The Hatha yoga predominantly practiced in the west consists of mostly asanas understood as physical exercises. It is also recognized as a stress-reducing practice which probably accounts for its popularity in stressful western cultures.

The system of Hatha Yoga was compiled in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by the Yogi Swatmarama in 15th century India. In that work, it is introduced as a prepration of the body for purification so that the body can be ready for long periods of higher meditation. the ultimate goal of this preparation and meditation is the attainment of “Samadhi” – a mastery of the mind through a high state of concentration

No exploration of yoga would be complete without a thorough understanding of meditation.

Meditation is essentially the calming of the chattering mind. In the Buddhist tradition, the mind is likened to a monkey – constantly chattering in your ear to no clear purpose. In the West, we are conditioned to thought and the primacy of the mind, but in the Eastern tradition, the mind is often seen as an obstacle, and a source of confusion.

Sooner or later, your thoughts always tend to bring you down.

With meditation, you calm that chattering monkey and focus on what is before you – without purposely thinking. The irony of this practice is that the calming effects of meditation allow your mind to fulfill its proper function as a tool. When thought is necessary, it will be there, only calmer and much more rational.

Formal meditation involves sitting quietly – with or without closing the eyes. Usually you simply focus your attention on something right in front of you, or something obvious. This can be a candle flame, or more commonly, simply your breath. The act of focusing on your inhalations and exhalations and ignoring any thoughts that go through your mind sounds simple – but it is difficult to master in the beginning.

The trick is to not be concerned with any stray thoughts. Thoughts will pop into your head automatically. You must simply let them come in, and let them drift out – without focusing on them.

Sitting quietly for no more than 10 minutes a day – preferably at the same time of day – will calm your mind, give you much better focus, and lower your blood pressure. You will also find that you will think more clearly during the rest of the day, act less impulsively, and make fewer mistakes.

Another aspect of meditation is to incorporate it into your every day life. You can meditate while performing simple acts or going through the routine of your day. If you have to climb a long flight of stairs, don’t think about the chore of getting to the top. Instead, focus on each step as an action in the here and now. The future is an abstraction and the past no longer exists.

All we can ever really deal with is the here and now. Just the simple understanding of this will relieve you of a tremendous psychological burden. Let go of any attachment to results. Results are based in the future and the future is just an idea in your mind. Once the future appears, it will actually be the present moment. After it comes and goes, it will then be an abstraction once again, only this time just a memory.

Meditation allows us to experience this and to see the intransigence of everything in life. The irony is that once this is understood, life loses its heaviness and drama.

Set aside ten minutes each day to meditate before even attempting a yoga pose. Over time you will find it transforming.

This is perhaps the most well known yoga position even by non-practitioners, and it is a classic. Contrary to what many may think, however, this is NOT a basic pose and should be avoided by novices. Until this position is mastered, it may be considered uncomfortable at first.

On a heavy, folded blanket, you start from the staff pose (dandasana). First, bend the right knee and bring the right ankle all the way up to the left hip. Face the sole of the foot upwards.

Next, do the same thing with the left knee. Bend the left knee and bring it to the right hip, facing the left foot sole upwards.

Finally, repeat the above two steps, this time bending and tucking the left knee first and then the right knee.

Any beginners who may be attempting this position should do a “half lotus” first. That is, only assume this position with one knee. Then unbend and assume the position with the other knee.

It takes practice.

Even though the position is uncomfortable for beginners, eventually it is considered the first step before proper meditation. The pose should heighten the meditation experience and facilitate relaxation. Muscular tension, breath rate and blood pressure should all subside in this pose.

This is a kind of controlled deep breathing. When done properly, you increase your level of oxygen and decrease your level of carbon dioxide exhaled as a waste gas, thereby causing a relaxation effect. Also known as pranayama (literally “energy distribution”), yoga breathing is considered essential to the development of meditation, awareness and ultimately enlightenment. By consciously paying attention to our breath we increase our self-awareness, self-control and sense of calm.

It involves inhaling and exhaling through the nose as you pay conscious attention to each inhalation and exhalation. You must pay attention to your normal breaths at first, and then begin breathing deeply in this fashion for at least 5 minutes. More experienced practitioners can continue for an hour or longer.

Studies show that yoga breathing can lead to longevity and the decrease in certain western ailments such as heart disease and high blood pressure. However, the intent behind yoga breathing is to calm the senses and reach a meditative state.

It follows from the overall philosophical dictates of yoga as achieving balance. As implied by the term pranayama, yoga breathing is considered to be an energy delivery system which helps the body maintain energy equilibrium and balance.

Yoga creates relaxation and peace

Yoga is more than a combination of strength and flexibility centered body postures. It is a complete philosophy – and ultimately a very personal one. I firmly believe that no two people will view yoga the same way because it is an internal journey. That’s why this Website is called “Yoga Within”. We will be exploring the use of yoga as a way to view the world and quiet the chattering internal mind.

This is an important philosophy for everyone to follow, but it is particularly important for professionals in any field. Most professionals tend to “live inside their head”, and often our thoughts can torture us. Yoga focuses on relaxation, harmony and inner peace, and can serve as an important tool to distance us from the chattering monkey inside our head. With calmness and peace comes clarity. With clarity comes fewer mistakes and more intuitively correct decisions both personally and professionally.

It has been documented that yoga has many health benefits and can actually relieve certain physical and emotional ailments like back pain, fatigue and depression. Yoga creates regular feelings of well-being. The precise movements and postures required in yoga tend to draw the mind away from problems and into the present moment. This immediately relieves stress while toning the muscles.

In the ensuing posts, we will be exploring and defining yoga. What is yoga? What is the most common form of yoga in the west, and what can it do for you? You are invited to participate in this conversation and this exploration.

Wednesday’s events
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31 FREE YOGA, 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday at Sacred Space Yoga, 4689 W. 20th, Suite D. Restorative yoga is a gentle form of yoga, suitable for all levels of fitness. Class is free. For more information, call Krista at (970) 515-6160 or go to the Web site, www.ssyoga.com. UNC UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, 7:30 p.m., Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th …

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